Gustave Courbet

Gustave Courbet, (born June 10, 1819, Ornans, France—died December 31, 1877, La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland) French painter and leader of the Realist movement. Courbet rebelled against the Romanticpainting of his day, turning to everyday events for his subject matter. His huge shadowed canvases with their solid groups of figures, such as The Artist’s Studio (1855), drew sharp criticism from the establishment. From the 1860s a more sensuous and colourful manner prevailed in his work.

Early life and work

Courbet was born in eastern France, the son of Eléonor-Régis, a prosperous farmer, and Sylvie Courbet. After attending both the Collège Royal and ... (100 of 2,068 words)